2. Check for Any Last Minute Updates

Now that you’re up to speed on what’s new, next step is tocheck for updates.

Yes, I appreciate that this sounds like an odd thing to do after upgrading or installing but it’s important that you do it.

Firstly, not everyone is reading this list on release date. And even if you are, a few last-minute security, stability or bug fixes may have slipped out between the installation image being created and you installing from it — bugs don’t stick to the same deadlines that developers do!

How to check for updates on Ubuntu:

Launch the ‘Software Updater’ tool from the Unity Dash

Click the button to check for updates

Install (if needed)

3. Install Linux Graphics Drivers

Install GPU drivers

Ubuntu supports most Nvidia and Intel graphics hardware out of the box, giving you a choice of free, open-source drivers or proprietary, closed-source drivers.

But to get the best performance from your Ubuntu PCyou will want to use the latest proprietary graphics drivers available for your hardware.

Ubuntu makes it easy to do this, and you benefit from a smoother Unity desktop experience as a result. You’ll squeeze higher frame rates out of your favourite games, too. 😉

If you plan to play the latest Steam games on Ubuntu or use GPU heavy apps like Blender you should install the latest proprietary Linux graphics drivers available for your hardware.

To do this:

Open up the ‘Software & Updates’ tool from the Unity Dash

Click the ‘Additional Drivers’ tab

Follow any on-screen prompts to check for, install and apply any changes

Gamers using Nvidia hardware who are willing to trade a bit of stability for a whole lot of newness can use the Nvidia Graphics PPA to install newer Nvidia Linux graphics drivers.

Those of you on Radeon device should be aware that the standard AMD driver is NOT SUPPORTED in 16.04 at this time. A future point release is expected to bring support for the new AMDGPU driver. Expect a regression in system performance if you upgrade.

4. Install Media Codecs

Playing MP3s in Rhythmbox

Legal issues stop Ubuntu from being able to play MP3, MP4 and other media files ‘out of the box’.

Ubuntu can play your audio and video files, you just have to tell it to do so.

The easiest way to do this is to check (tick) the ‘Enable Restricted Formats‘ box during installation. This will install all the required multimedia codecs automatically, along with the OS itself.

If you forgot to do that (or upgrade from an earlier release) you can install the multimedia codecs manually via the Software app:

6. Move The Unity Launcher

Ubuntu positions its app launcher on the left-hand side of the desktop by default.

Ubuntu 16.04 finally lets you choose where the Unity launcher is positioned.

If you want to move the Unity launcher to the bottom of the screen run the following command in a new Terminal (or install/use Unity Tweak Tool > Unity > Launcher > Position):

gsettings set com.canonical.Unity.Launcher launcher-position Bottom

7. Install New GTK and Icon Themes

Ubuntu can be themed to suit your tastes

Ubuntu’s default look is nice enough, but it’s not to everyone’s tastes.

For those who switch to Ubuntu from Mac OS X, Windows 10 or a different design-led Linux distro like elementary, the stock Ambiance GTK theme and Ubuntu Mono icon set can seem humdrum and old-fashioned.

The good news is that it is easy to make Ubuntu look fantastic. You can do this in a number of ways.

The ‘Appearance‘ section in Ubuntu System Settings lets you adjust parts of the Ubuntu desktop to suit your needs, including:

Change the desktop wallpaper

Switch to a light theme

Adjust the size of icons on the Unity launcher

For more customization options, be it changing the desktop font or choosing which side window controls appear, install the free Unity Tweak Tool from Software.

8. Decide Where App Menus Show Up

Do you prefer app menus to show in-app?

Application menus appear in Ubuntu’s top panel by default and auto-hide after a set several seconds.

A great way to save space, but also a great way to confuse. When you’re using several apps it’s often hard to know which app the ‘Files’, ‘Edit’, etc. strip at the top of the screen belongs to — or where they’ve suddenly vanished to!

Ubuntu provides options inside the System Settings > Appearance pane that allow you to choose where app menus appear.

If you’d rather see menus inside the window of the app they belong to:

Go to ‘System Settings > Appearance’

Select the ‘Behavior’ tab

Find the section headed: ‘Show the Menus for a Window’

Check (click) the circle next to ‘In the window’s title bar’

To make application menus ‘Always Show’:

Go to ‘System Settings > Appearance’

Select the ‘Behavior’ tab

Find the section headed: ‘Menus visibility’

Check (click) the circle next to ‘Always displayed’

9. Explore The New ‘Software’ Store

A new software store ships as part of Ubuntu 16.04 LTS.

Direct from the department of “Long Overdue Changes”, this all-new app store replaces the Ubuntu Software Center which has shipped in every Ubuntu release since Ubuntu 9.10!

‘Software’ (inspired name, right?) is a sleeker, snappier storefront letting you browse, install and update apps. If you’re used to the old Software Center then be prepared to relearn a few tricks.

The overall best solution for using Flash on Linux is to download and use Google Chrome. Chrome comes with anup-to-date version of the Flash plugin built-in. In fact it’s the only way to get the latest Flash player updates on Linux — and it’s a PPAPI plugin, too.

But I appreciate that not everyone wants to use Chrome. Some of you may be using a 32-bit version of Ubuntu, which Chrome no longer supports. Whatever the reason you need it, here’s how to get it:

13. Supercharge The Unity Dash

A lone toggle

The Unity Dash is the hub of the OS. You can search, preview and open recent files, folders, installed apps and media content.

But it can do so much more if you ask it to.

How does checking the weather forecast without leaving your desktop sound? What about sifting through Wikipedia articles, previewing music on SoundCloud, or browsing eBay? All possible when you enable Unity’s online search feature.

Head to the Privacy & Securitysection of System Settings. From there you can also:

15. Install a System Cleaner

Caches and cruft accumulate as you use Ubuntu. To keep your fresh install feeling, well, fresh you should do a bit of basic housekeeping from time to time.

One of my favourite system cleaning apps is BleachBit (free, open source). BleachBit can tackle menial tasks, from clearing your browser’s cache to deleting packages left over from installation, all at the push of a button.

If you upgrade from an earlier version of Ubuntu using a system cleaning tool (or command) is a foolproof way to claw back some precious space. You’ll also keep your system running lean ‘n mean — which is always bonus!

Just be careful about what you clean: don’t remove anything you’re unsure of.

16. Tell Others About Ubuntu

If the 15 steps before this one are the bread, then this 16th idea is definitely the cheese! 😉

If you try Ubuntu 16.04 LTS and like it remember to tell someone about it.

There are plenty of ways to tell other people about Ubuntu (and open-source software in general). You might:

Burn a Live DVD/USB for someone you know to try

Share what you like about it on social media and blogs

Contribute to development by reporting bugs

Wear an Ubuntu t-shirt or put Linux stickers on your laptops

Join an Ubuntu LoCo team or Linux User Group

If you have your own top tips for spreading word about Ubuntu do share them in the comments section below.

Over To You: What Are Your Post-Install Tips?

Those are our action items post-release, but what are yours? Share your tips and tweaks in the comments section below.

A polite notice:This list is about things do after installing Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. If you don’t want to use Unity don’t install the regular version of Ubuntu. Several community flavors ship with other desktop environments installed and integrated by default. Save yourself the hassle of ‘uninstalling Unity’ by installing one that doesn’t include it!

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